Victoria sets her sights on life in uniform

MINESWEEPER: Victoria learns how to operate mine-detection equipment during a two-day experience at Linton Military Camp. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

While many secondary students her age are preparing for their careers by visiting universities, sitting in on lectures and checking out the local nightlife, Victoria Draper thought she'd try something a little different.

Last term, while her classmates were snug and warm in their classrooms, Victoria donned an army uniform and protective combat gear, learned how to operate military equipment and braved the freezing weather to participate in gruelling physical tasks.

The St Matthew's Senior College student attended a two-day army training course at Linton Military Camp in July, along with five Rathkeale students and three from Tu Toa in Palmerston North.

Life in the military can be physically tough, she discovered - but Victoria wouldn't have it any other way. "It's quite likely I'll join the army after school."

"The whole two days were so overwhelming, but it was really cool to see what the army was like.

"It will be a good career choice for me, I think."

Victoria, 16, said she was drawn to the army because of her love for all things athletic and a self-confessed need for discipline and structure - so wasted no time signing up for the Linton experience.

"I got to school one morning, and heard about it from a friend," she said. "So, I put my name down right away."

At the military camp, the students had the opportunity to meet several different army specialists, such as gunners, artillery operators, mechanics, fire fighters, divers and medics.

They also had the chance to operate some of the technology on hand, such as mine-detection devices and firefighting equipment, and got to try on various types of combat garb - including chemical protection suits.

"I went in not knowing much about what people in the army actually did," said Victoria.

"I thought the divers were really cool. They do all the underwater stuff, like searching for mines and anything else under the surface. I learned that the army is about more than just going to war overseas."

A large part of the Linton experience, she said, was the physical training exercises - which included having to tread water for three minutes in full uniform, and lifting 20kg dairy cans of water on to a trailer 10 times in under 90 seconds.

While many young people may cringe at such activities, Victoria grew more animated with each test she described.

"I didn't find it too hard," she said. "I'm quite a hands-on, outdoor person, and I take PE at school, so I've done lots of things like swimming and tramping and rafting."